Twin Stick Help

If used poppet springs were used then That could be the problem. I’d install new ones and shim the springs using small washers under the springs. Some companies that supply twin stick conversions supply small washers for this purpose. I shim every 20 and 300 conversion I do because I’ve had this issue before. One of the questions I ask every customer with a 20 or 300 is if they plan to convert.

 

Thank you for chiming in. Is there a particular brand of spring that you recommend? Or is Omix/crown all that's out there?

 

Omix/Crown is pretty much what is out there that I've found new. I tried looking at Herm's special made shift rails but could not find a picture. On stock Dana 20's there is a ramp on one of the shift rails that is not a positive lock on the detent ball (poppet ball) in low range iirc. I weld these up and machine a more positive crescent shaped detent ball relief that matches the rest. This and shimming the springs have pretty much eliminated popping out of gear with a twin stick conversion for me. I've done dozens of them now with good results. I'm not sure if Herm is building his this way or not.

 

I'm making progress on my twin stick conversion. I bought the Heim joints, and rod to make shifters. The rest of this stuff I had on hand. Not done yet but you can probably figure out where I'm headed.

 

Just a heads up, the stock twin sticks are extremely rigid. Make sure you use something stiff enough for the shifters. I used 1/2” rebar once and they bent before they shifted.

 

Good to know. I have 7/16" mild steel rod I was planning on using. I may need to use the 5/8" stuff I used to make that cross member thingy. I purposely mounted the bar high up so I could get more leverage and throw with the shifters as short as possible

 

So......when you get that dialed in, you can show me how to make one too.

 

Looks like a good start! So you swapped out to a later single-stick front housing?
-Donny

 

Well, actually I swapped back to my original single stick front housing. I had swapped on a twin stick front thinking that was a good start towards twin sticks. Then I learned it's easier to make a twin stick with a single stick front than it is to make a twin stick with a twin stick front

 

Yes, let's do it, it's very simple. I have plenty of left over material except the 4 heim joints. Pretty sure we could do it with it in the Jeep if you remove the floor cover.

 

Say what???

 

Making a bit more progress. The tab hanging down on the left will get two bends in it which is why it's longer.

 

The stock twin stick pivot would be pretty far aft and snugly to the 4speed. This let's him put the twins near a 3speed location in the floor or whatever feels good.

 

Making progress









Shifters are 5/8" rod inside DOM with the bottom curved to weld onto the collar. They feel heavy but I still have them pretty long until I bend them and test fit in the Jeep.







I'm not going to weld on the shifters until I get it back in the Jeep.

I feel like my shifters might be too big and too heavy? I also feel like this whole setup is going to rattle and drive me crazy!

 

Maybe replace that thick washer between the 2 pivots with some nylon washers on each side? Yeah they'd wear out eventually but the tcase shifter doesn't see that much use so probably not an issue.

 

I'll post the final pics here also in case someone finds it useful.

 

This is sound advice. I used 5/8" rod for my shifters (was going to use smaller until I saw the advice), anything smaller probably would bend the low/high stick.